16 members, guest Andrew Drier, proprietor of Heights Chiro & Wellness in Columbia Heights, Columbia Heights STRIVE students Kaich Ogue, Abdeta Tula, and Abdul Regassa, and Columbia Heights STRIVE adviser Scott Roehm attended on January 23 as Past President Wally Wysopal led the meeting and presented donation checks for $750 to Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts director Jeff Ebeling for BLCA's upcoming Student Art Exhibition and for $1500 to the Lee Carlson Center for its upcoming Chili Cookoff and Beverage Tasting. Members later had the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of the new Fridley Civic Center led by Brian Weierke and Wally Wysopal.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Patty Halvorson announced that the nonprofit Compassion Action Network will sponsor a presentation by United Healthcare Senior Program Manager for Social responsibility Jaime McKenzie at the Fridley Civic Campus from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7.

Steve Klaers announced that the final STRIVE field trip of the year will take place on March 7, from 9:00 - 2:00 p.m. Contact Steve at 612-599-8103 if you can accompany the students.

The Alexandra House Hope Gala will take place on Saturday, March 30. The club has purchased a table for 6. Please contact club Secretary Bob Tholkes at 763-913-4453 if interested in attending at the club’s table.

The 2019 District Conference for Clubs is scheduled for April 11-12 at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Details and registration information are at www.Rotary5960.org.

Craig Malm announced that the Allina/Bikes for Kids bike giveaway will take place on April 13 at Stevenson Elementary School in Fridley.

REMINDERS:

The club will donate funding for the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts Student Art Exhibition, February 9 – March 9. The Center also seeks volunteers. Contact Director Jeff Ebeling if interested at jeffrey@banfill-locke.org.

Rotary Clubs 10 & 9 are pleased to welcome 2019-2020 RI President Mark Maloney as speaker and guest of honor at our annual joint Club Meeting on Tuesday, February 5th. Join us for the lunch meeting followed by a Q&A session with President Elect Maloney at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront. Click Here for More Information or to Register: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/3998/Event/Register/3c284b91-77c2-40c2-9f70-deef89c7ee5f

The Fridley Lions' “Winter Warm-up” will be held on Friday, February 22, from 6 to 9 pm at Banquets of Minnesota in Fridley. Scott Lund has tickets for sale at the breakfast meetings.

(Patti Halvorson) The Lee Carlson Center Chili Cookoff and Beverage Tasting will take place on March 1 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Brooklyn Center, reflecting LCC's expansion to that Hennepin County community. More information to come.

The "Taste of Fridley" a fundraiser for the spring Fridley Middle School East Coast trip, will be held on Friday, March 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Banquets of MN in Fridley.

The club needs a Youth Exchange Officer for 2019-20. Please contact President-Elect Brian Weierke if interested.

Donations are sought for the Metro North Adult Basic Ed winter clothing distribution program in our service area. They will be accepted all through the winter. They can be brought to the breakfast and given to Kristen Stuenkel.